CONTAX AWAITED - FROM KIEV !

I am awaiting Contax III , bought from USA and sent directly to Mike Haley and his ex-arsenal merry men . They were able to fix the original shutter , tidy up a dint in the meter door , and fit a new cell . Full CLA and 6 months warranty of course .
Total cost , Ј125 plus Ј75 - with tested and checked Sonnar collapsible .

... OK , I could have had my 1954 Kiev III sorted for just the Ј75 , and I doubt I will be able to tell the difference in useage ... but Contax called !

dee

Dee, I'm curious what's their turnaround time to do something like that? It must take a while to send it to Kiev and get it back...

Hi Vlad .
The link to Mike Haley is - http : // alien-planet.net/cameras_for_sale.htm .

He quotes 14 days fixing time and 14 - 18 days return , I would suggest 2-3 weeks to arrive from USA .

He charges 30 to 45 euro for CLA and fixing , plus a bit more for cosmetic work .

My Contax [ with Sonnar checked with film ] was 65 euro with shipping to UK . I had it sent directly from a USA e-bay seller and had to pay 15 euro import duy .

To my mind , from UK , the wait is well worth the reasonable outlay , I guess about Ј70 in total from UK to CLA a Kiev 2 / 3 - meter cell a bit more .

My thoughts are this - buy a pre-1955 KNeB III or II [ Or Contax II / III ] for about Ј100 , and make it special for a total of less than Ј200 .

I was quoted about Ј120 in Uk for CLA and shutter tape repair - but without a working meter cell and testing the lens . I would also have had to pay much more import taxes from USA to UK .

It's still reasonable for such a lovely classic user camera ... I am less certain about the value of CLA of a Kiev 4 unless you have one already .

But I am not reasonable about Kievs !

dee

Regards
dee

Hi Dee,

thanks for the info! No it's definitely worth doing with cameras like a pre-1950 Kiev II or 1950-1952 Kiev III this way you know the repair was done at the place of manufacture and makes your collector's heart all warm and fuzzy ..

Vlad.

Hi Vlad ..

I love the thought of my Contax being revived in the Arsenal factory - even if camera production is long gone and the machinery gradually deteriorating .
The guys working on the Kievs are post 50 years old - and can make a 1/2 frame or pinhole Kiev - just ask Mike !

I may just have a Kiev II facsia stripped to no name , with "" II "" engraved , parts Nickel plated in the Uk , and back to MIke for finishing . This was my original dream camera .

Undee'cided !

Hi Dee,

sounds like you're building some serious custom Kiev collection! I beg you to post pictures if you have the ability! I am dying to see those creations!

Cheers,
Vlad.